From their reservation in western Montana came a delegation of 15 from the Calispel, Flathead and Kootenai tribes. These three tribes were closely associated and spoke nearly similar Salishan dialects. They also had the same dress and general appearance.

The men wore their hair turned up from the forehead, similr to that of the Crows. Their color is not the coppery brown of the eastern Indians, but rather the creamy yellow sometimes seen among the Pueblos. In temper they are good-natured and fond of pleasantry, resembling the Pueblos rather than the stern warriors of the plains.

They formerly occupied the rough mountains at the extreme head of Missouri river, subsisting more by roots and berries than by hunting, as they were cut off from the buffalo country by their powerful enemies, the Blackfeet. They had houses of bark and reeds, as well as the skin tipi.

To see more images from the Indian Congress, visit the Indian Congress Photo Gallery. This collection includes over 500 photographs ofNative Americans, including portraits of individuals, groupphotos of families and photographs of various activities.

The library also has the original "Secretary's Report" from the TransMississippi Exposition. This document includes a section on the The Indian Congress by Mr. W. V. Cox, Secretary of the Government Exhibit Board. It also contains the Report of Captain Mercer, manager of the Indian Congress.